The Labour leader was speaking to the M.E.N. after he met with party activists in the city centre.

Mr Corbyn said he backed his party’s mayoral candidate Andy Burnham , who has also pledged the same in Greater Manchester as part of his campaign.

And Mr Corbyn said he wanted the same for the whole country.

It comes after the M.E.N. laid bare how Spice, also known as ‘synthetic’ cannabis, has affected the city’s homeless community and taken its toll on the emergency services.

Mr Corbyn told the M.E.N.: “ Homelessness is a disgrace and an outrage. In the 21st century, in the sixth richest country in the world, that thousands of people sleep on the streets every night is appalling.

Jeremy Corbyn is welcomed by supporters (Image: Dominic Salter)

“I’ve been talking to Andy Burnham about this in his mayoral campaign, I had a long discussion with him on Wednesday about this.

“He has a strategy and is absolutely determined to end rough sleeping homelessness by 2020.

“But above all, it means looking at the housing crisis that affects so many.

“There are people sleeping rough who are obviously in a very difficult situation, but there are also many living in very insecure, often very expensive private rented accommodation, where they have to move every six months or a year, and the children’s chances in education are severely damaged.